Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Pedro or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Puerto Vallarta, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Pedro or Puerto Vallarta?
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta remains a popular tourist destination with Americans, particularly during spring break when students flock to the area. The area is quite beautiful and has many gorgeous beaches, interesting jungles and waterfalls nearby, and no shortage of luxury resorts and four star restaurants. Many of the locals speak English and are friendly and open to helping tourists with directions or general information. Puerto Vallarta's popularity means that its prices are some of the highest in Mexico, particularly during holidays when the area can get quite crowded.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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San Pedro Prices
Belize PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $163Puerto Vallarta $128
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $163, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $128. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Pedro and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Puerto Vallarta $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Puerto Vallarta $114
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro or Puerto Vallarta? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34Puerto Vallarta $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $210
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
- Sayulita hotels to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) – Private Departure Transfer : $155
- Private Transfer from Punta de Mita Area to PVR Airport: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and San Pedro change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySan Pedro $69Puerto Vallarta $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Maya Sunset Dinner Feast: $49
- The Maya Dinner Experience: Season 2: $111
- The Garifuna Dinner Experience: Season I: $111
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Winner 2025 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Mexican Cooking Class, Tequila Tasting & Unlimited Margaritas: $89
- Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour : $99
- Puerto Vallarta- Market tour and Cooking Experience : $134
- Rhythms of the night, sunset cruise, open bar & oceanfront dinner: $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Puerto Vallarta $17
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- The Maya Brunch Experience: $44
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $59
- Haunted Tales of the Maya: Cocktail | Dessert Experience: $66
- Ambergris Caye Food and History Tour: $75
- Half Day Snorkeling Tour Caye Caulker: $80
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $85
- Belizean Food Experience: $87
- San Pedro Local Diving Experience : $97
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $99
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $99
- Caye Caulker Private Camping Adventure: $100
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $113
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- City tour express; butterfly, tequila, and beach an ecological day: $22
- EcoHike experience through the jungle, mountains and hidden beach: $30
- Puerto Vallarta VIP Promotional Tour: $30
- Hike and Yoga Jungle Experience in Mexico: $30
- Beachfront Massage Experience in Mismaloya: $42
- Puerto Vallarta City Tour with a Visit to our Adventure Park: $45
- Boat and Snorkel Tour to 5 Islands of Los Arcos: $46
- Monkey Mountain Hiking tour: $50
- Sayulita Taco Tour: $54
- Sayulita And San Pancho Beachs Tour: $64
- Bioluminescence & sunset local boat tour to Los Arcos Sanctuary: $67
- Canopy Tour Experience in Sayulita, Nuevo Nayarit.: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Puerto Vallarta $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Vallarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro is in Central America and Puerto Vallarta is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Puerto Vallarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Vallarta and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in San Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro than you might in Puerto Vallarta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro and Puerto Vallarta, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.